Student Guide – Residential Life Policies

Housing Arrangements

Housing Deposit

A $100 housing deposit is collected from all residential students when they apply for housing. It covers the cost of damages to college property, cleaning fees, unreturned library books, and other costs that are the student’s responsibility. Under normal conditions, this deposit is not credited or refunded until the semester after the student has left BLC.

Check-in/Check-out

All students must review and sign the check-in form when moving into their residence. Conversely, all students must review and sign their check-out form when moving out of their residence. Students are financially responsible for any damage or change they caused to the condition of their residence, wing or residence hall. Failure to follow this procedure may result in the loss of the student’s housing deposit.

Requests for Room Changes

Policy

Bethany Lutheran College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, citizenship, creed, genetic information, disability, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission, or other categories protected by law, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and other school-administered programs. The College adheres to the requirements of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the ADA policy of 1990. The College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant international students. Concerns regarding Title IX should be directed to the College’s Title IX Officer.

Under normal conditions, students must wait until the third week of each academic semester to request room changes. Students are generally allowed one free room change per academic year. Any additional or unauthorized moves may cost $100 per move.

In situations involving roommate conflict, students are encouraged to work through the issues with their roommate(s). Students may also ask Residential Life staff to provide mediation assistance.

Students must follow the process outlined below to request a room change.
If the request to change rooms is granted, the student must review and sign the appropriate check-in/check-out forms with her/his Res-Life Staff.

Process

Submission of Request: All requests for room changes must be made in writing to the appropriate Resident Hall Coordinator using the Request for Room Change form available from the Resident Hall Coordinators.

The Resident Hall Coordinator will respond to the request within ten days of the Resident Hall Coordinator’s receipt of the Request for Room Change form.

Appeal of Decision: Students whose request for a room change is denied have the right to appeal the decision by filing a formal grievance with the College as outlined by the College’s grievance policy and process available from the College’s Equal Opportunity Coordinator: contact the Manager of Human Resources, 205 Old Main; 507.344.7840.

Private Rooms

All residential students generally reside with a roommate(s) during their residency on campus. Private rooms may be available in certain locations by student status (ie. upper classmen) and as space is available. Contact the Director of Residential Life for more information.

The need for a private room for medical reasons must be substantiated with documentation from a licensed and practicing physician. Contact the Director of Residential Life or the Office of Disability Services for more information or to obtain a Housing Accommodation Form to initiate the request process.

Married/Family Accommodations

Bethany does not provide housing for married couples or families. Visiting family and friends, who are not around traditional college age, are asked to find off-campus accommodations.

Care of Residence Halls/Public Spaces

Out of respect for other residents and the campus community, students are expected to help keep the campus and residential halls as neat and clean as possible. Students can help by picking up trash and by cleaning up after themselves in the bathrooms, lounges, laundry rooms, and other spaces. Students should report any repair needs to the Resident Hall Coordinator of the building.

NOTE: Damage to public areas is the financial responsibility of all students of the pertinent residence hall. If it cannot be determined who is responsible for such damage, sanctions, such as fines, may be assessed to all occupants of the floor or hall.

Room Care and Decorations

Bethany wants all residential students to feel comfortable and at home in the res-halls, and students may decorate their space to make it their own. For the sake of safety, maintenance, cleanliness, and upholding Bethany’s Christian moral standards, the following policies have been established to guide students in decorating their space. Failure to adhere to these policies may result in sanctions by the College. Students may direct any questions regarding room care, decorations, or any of the following policies to Res-Life Staff.

1. All residential students complete a check-in form at the time of taking occupancy of their room. This form is referenced at the time of check-out to assess for any damages to the room. Rooms must be restored to their original condition at the end of the year.
2. For health and safety reasons, students are responsible for the cleanliness of their rooms. Garbage must be routinely removed and dispensed of in the dumpsters outside of each res-hall.
3. Lounge or study room furniture has been provided for public spaces and may not be used as personal room furniture. Likewise, college-owned room furniture should remain in its designated individual residential space.
4. Bethany provides manufactured lofting kits for loftable beds in select res-halls. Other lofts, platforms, partitions, room dividers, or other structures are not permitted.
5. Decorations should be affixed with materials that can be easily removed from the wall without causing damage or leaving residue. Small nails, tacks, and removable tape are allowed. ‘3-M Command Strips’ are prohibited on plaster walls as they tend to peel the paint and plaster.
6. One (1) refrigerator per resident is permitted (rated no more than 2.5 amps) with a maximum of two (2) per room.
7. Electrical appliances which generate excessive heat or contain heating elements are not permitted in rooms for fire safety. Examples include but are not limited to: hot plates (including coffee makers with hot plates), microwaves, space heaters, halogen lamps, popcorn poppers, toaster ovens, air fryers, and air conditioners.
8. Electrical appliances that are permitted in Edgewood Place or Gullixson apartments include: microwaves, toasters, electric grills including George Foreman type, and bread makers.
9. Bike storage is allowed in rooms and winter bike storage is available in the Gullixson Hall basement storage area.
10. Drawing and painting are not permitted on the walls, ceilings, desks, etc., including the use of washable markers.
11. Alcoholic beverage containers or the cartons they come in are prohibited in the residence halls. Signs, lights, and other materials advertising alcohol are not permitted as decorations in the rooms or in windows. More information can be found in the Drug and Alcohol Policies of the Student Guidebook.
12. Public street and road signs are prohibited as decorations.
13. Flammable materials such as tapestries and parachutes, may not be hung from the ceiling. Any open flame, such as the burning of candles, incense, etc. is prohibited.
14. Displaying, possessing, or distributing any materials on-campus incongruent with the mission and values of the College, such as, but not limited to pornographic materials, materials saturated with offensive language, materials deemed to portray bigotry, racism, or sexism are prohibited.
15. Carpeting or rugs are permitted in the rooms, but they may not be attached to the floor in any way. Rubber or foam backed carpeting is prohibited by City of Mankato fire code.
16. Natural Christmas trees and trimmings are prohibited; only fire-proof Christmas decorations and U.L. listed fire-retardant Christmas tree lights may be used.
17. Outlet strips must be U.L. listed and be equipped with a circuit breaker.
18. Pets other than fish are not permitted. There is a limit of one 10-gallon fish tank per residence. For information related to service animals on campus, please contact the Office of Disability Services or the Director of Residential Life.
19. The riding of bikes, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, roller blades or roller skates inside of campus buildings is prohibited.
20. Any aroma of such intensity that it becomes apparent to others is prohibited.

Smoke-, Vape-, and Tobacco-Free Buildings and Residences

The use of tobacco in all its forms (including tobacco-related devices and electronic delivery devices) is only permitted in designated outdoor tobacco use areas. Use is not permitted inside of any College building. This includes all residential spaces and personal rooms on campus. Please see the complete “Tobacco-Free Buildings” statement found in the Student Services section of the Student Guide for additional information.

Safety Inspections, Entry, and Search

Entry and Safety Inspections

Bethany respects the privacy of students and, as a general rule, will not enter student rooms without invitation. To insure that the rooms are in accord with local health and fire regulations, to enforce the policies of the College, or to protect college property, there are times when periodic inspections of student rooms may take place. The College will notify students when scheduled safety inspections will occur, however, there may be times when inspections are unannounced.

The College reserves the right to enter a room without the consent of students under the following circumstances, such as but not limited to:

• When there is a need for improvements or maintenance.
• When there is concern for the safety, health, or welfare of the students.
• When a staff member has probable cause to believe that a violation of federal, state, or local laws, or College policies or regulations is occurring or has occurred in the room.
• When a room inspection or search has been authorized.

Room Search

Room searches will occur when probable cause is believed to exist. Rooms will not be searched unless authorization has been given by the Dean of Students, Director of Security Services, or Residential Life Staff (or their designees). The search of all rooms on a floor, in a hall or house will be authorized and conducted only when continual or flagrant violations of a college rule or federal, state or other law occur or are suspected. Residential Hall and room searches by local authorities (such as a canine unit) may be conducted as situations warrant.

Residential Hall Security

Residential halls are locked 24 hours a day for resident safety. Students are required to carry their assigned access FOB with them to enter the building at any hour.

All visitors or delivery personnel are to be met at the lobby entrance and granted access by the person they are visiting (See Visitation Hours and Visitors and Overnight Guests registration policy). Residential students need to inform guests on how to reach them. Campus security is enhanced when all members of the campus community work together in providing a safe environment. When passing through a secure door, such as the main entrance to a residential hall, do not allow strangers to enter along with you. Direct guests to contact the resident whom they wish to visit for access to the residence hall. If anyone harasses you for denying them access, contact the Resident Hall Coordinator or Security immediately. If they have an emergency, direct them to call the Residential Hall Coordinator, Security, or police for assistance.

Tampering with Safety/Security Measures on Campus

Tampering with the various safety and security measures Bethany has provided is prohibited. To enhance security, do not prop open doors, tamper with controlled access points, alarms, security cameras, emergency phones, fire extinguishers, locks, window latches, or remove screens. Tampering may result in conduct sanctions, fines, and/or criminal prosecution. Please “think safety” and immediately notify Campus Security or Residential Life Staff regarding problems, safety concerns, necessary repairs or inappropriate/suspicious behavior. Working together enhances safety for all at Bethany.

Resident Hall Visitation Hours

Visitors and guests are invited to visit their friends on campus. Men are allowed in the women’s residence halls and women are allowed in the men’s residence halls only during the times known as visitation hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 3:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
• Friday: 3:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Saturday: 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Sunday: 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Policies

• All guests must sign in/out of the Visitor Log at the RA desk, providing complete information requested.
• The clock located in the res-hall lobby is used as the official time regarding visitation hours.
• All off-campus visitors are to adhere to the policies of Bethany Lutheran College and guest privileges may be revoked for uncooperative conduct.
• Students are responsible for the conduct of their guests, including compliance with college policies, property damage, or injury to other students.
• The College does not permit a person of the opposite sex or a person of sexual attraction to stay overnight with a student on campus.
• Visitation hours are subject to modification for special events.

Violating visitation hours and/or failure to properly sign in/out on the Visitor Log may result in sanctions (e.g. possible restrictions, fines, or suspension of privileges) pursuant to the Student Guidebook. Standard sanctions for visitation hour violations have been developed and are as noted on the following chart “Standard Sanctions for Visitation Hour Violations.” Visitation Hour sanctions may be modified based on mitigating or other circumstances as appropriate.

Quiet and Courtesy Hours

Quiet Hours: 11 PM – 8 AM
Bethany is committed to maintaining a residential environment that is comfortable and supports students during their academic pursuits. Quiet and courtesy hours assist in maintaining that environment.

Courtesy Hours: 24 Hours a Day
Regardless of quiet hours, students are expected to be courteous of other residents at all times. Please respect other students’ rights to sleep, study, and not be disturbed. Noise levels must be lowered at the request of a residential life staff member or any other student residing in the area.

On-Campus Storage

Bike Storage

Bike storage is allowed in rooms. Students are welcome to use the outside bike racks during the warmer months. The use of a bicycle lock is strongly advised. Over the winter months between November and March, students are able to store bikes in the lower level of Gullixson Hall. Contact the Gullixson Resident Hall Coordinator at 507.344.7600. Bikes must be clearly tagged. Permission must be received to store bikes over summer.

On-Campus Student Storage

Bethany has limited space for the storage of personal belongings. Specific inquiries about renting a storage locker may be directed toward the Business Office. Students are encouraged to protect their belongings with appropriate insurance coverage as Bethany is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Abandoned Belongings

Anything found in the residence halls after a resident completes the check-out form, or is no longer living in residential housing, will be considered College property and may be disposed of in a manner in which the College sees fit without financial liability. Any costs incurred by the College will be billed to the student. Bethany is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Laundry and Vending Machines

Laundry and vending machines are provided by a third-party entity for the convenience of our students. If laundry machines are not working properly, contact your Resident Hall Coordinator. Bethany is not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Any loss of money in vending or change machines should be reported to the Business Office for refunds.

Visitors and Overnight Guests

If guests will be staying overnight, the host must talk to their Resident Assistant or Hall Coordinator, and complete an Overnight Guest Form. Minors (those under the age of 18) must also have a parent or guardian sign the form. The Overnight Guest Form can be downloaded from the Residential Life page of the Bethany website at blc.edu/residential-life. 

Visiting family and friends, who are not around traditional college age, are asked to find off-campus accommodations.

All guests are expected to abide by the same rules that apply to students and it is the responsibility of the host to ensure that the guest is aware of campus policies. In addition to filing with Res-Life staff, overnight guests are asked to limit their stay to two nights and register their vehicle with a temporary parking permit at the Business Office.

The College does not permit a person of the opposite sex or a person of sexual attraction to stay overnight with a student on campus.

Breaks and Interim Housing

All students must vacate campus housing over Christmas Break and Spring Break unless they live in campus apartments or are required to be on campus for Bethany-sponsored activities.

• Any other student wishing to remain on campus over Christmas Break must pay $25 per day. Cap of $250 for the entirety of break. There is no fee for Spring Break.
• All students on campus over Christmas or Spring Break must pre-register with the Office of Residential Life, regardless of their reason for staying or whether they are paying to stay.

Please also see the Holidays and Breaks Chart on the Residential Life page of the Bethany website at blc.edu/residential-life for any Dining Center or Visitation Hour changes.  

Living & Renting in Mankato

Students who are eligible under Bethany’s residential policies to live off-campus, may find the document “Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities” helpful.